For centuries, we Europeans have been inseparable from the sea and its fish.
Fish are an important part of our diets, keeping us healthy.
Fishing provides us with jobs.
Fish help us prosper.
When we take fish from our seas, we need to make sure enough are left in the water, to maintain our ecosystem's health and to be able to keep on fishing in the future. considering the importance of this topic for the well-being of the European and global population, EU at Expo 2015 decided to host on its social media a thematic week on sustainable seafood and fisheries in the EU. The thematic week, jointly run with the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission from 18 to 24 May, aims at raising awareness on the importance of a more sustainable approach to the management of sea resources and on the environmental impact that we can generate as consumers.
The European Union is a world leader in fisheries management and aquaculture standards. Over the last decade, our policies have had a positive impact in places such as the North-East Atlantic where more and more stocks are caught sustainably. However, more work needs to be done to replicate this success across Europe.
In 2013, the European Commission, together with Member States' governments and the European Parliament, agreed the new Common Fisheries Policy to boost the European fisheries and aquaculture sectors and make them more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.
As the world´s largest importer of fish products, we must also continue to be an example for others to follow outside European waters. We all have a part to play in sustainability. Changing fish consumption is vital in helping fishing become more sustainable. As consumers and market actors, we have to be aware that what, when and how we eat, buy and sell seafood has a huge impact on this precious food source.
If you are interested in the topic and want to keep yourself in the loop, follow our thematic week onFacebbok, Twitter and Instagram, and find more visuals on Pinterest. General information about fisheries, aquaculture and maritime issues, EU Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).